Smart City Development Research Articles

Exploring motivations for social games in virtual reality for smart cities

The Metaverse is experiencing widespread adoption by organizations aiming to elevate brand engagement, particularly in computer engineering’s burgeoning field focused on virtual world gamification. This trend spans various sectors, including network science, smart cities, and online games. This study aims to reveal the motivations driving the use of virtual media, providing valuable insights into diverse user preferences. Integrating this information into smart city development holds promise for enhancing responsiveness to user needs, making our dataset relevant for both governmental and private entities seeking to create virtual media platforms or smart cities tailored to user demands. This research contributes to the ongoing evolution of smart city design, aligning with user motivations and adapting to evolving trends in user behavior. The findings offer a foundation for informed decision-making, promoting a user-centric and responsive approach in developing virtual experiences within the smart city context. Our research paper focuses on investigating the motivation and necessity of virtual reality (VR) games for potential integration into smart cities. Targeting a specific demographic of 40 individuals aged 18 to 24 in the capital of Thailand, we utilized correlational research methods to explore motivations and needs for VR games. Through the development of a socially virtual game-free asset using Unity, our experiments shed light on the significant motivations for Generation Z in Thailand, emphasizing convenience, product appearance, and game effects. The findings highlight the pivotal roles of social engagement and the motivation for self-disclosure in building relationships. Additionally, our study suggests that social connections and shared experiences strongly motivate individuals to participate in gaming activities. Notably, female players are significantly influenced by social connections, while branding has a minimal impact on their motivation and desire.

DTSSN: A Distributed Trustworthy Sensor Service Network Architecture for Smart City

The smart city is an increasingly popular concept when it comes to urban development. In a smart city, numerous sensor services are generated by IoT sensors in a distributed manner, requiring proper management and effective interaction to guarantee the connectivity of different regions. However, the sensitive nature of sensor data raises concerns over joining public cloud centers or edge servers, despite assurances of their reliability from providers. Local deployment and maintenance of sensor services may cause these service providers to become ”data isolated islands”, hindering the construction process of smart city. This paper proposes a distributed trustworthy sensor service network architecture named DTSSN to support the building of a fully distributed sensor service network. The proposed network architecture operates through the collaboration of two core devices, the sensor service switch and router, to effectively enable the registration, discovery, invocation, transaction, and monitoring of cross-region sensor services. Then, a lightweight trustworthy transaction mechanism based on blockchain is proposed to realize SLA-based automatic service transaction while reducing potential risks in the service network. Comparative analysis and simulation experiments validate the effectiveness of the DTSSN architecture in terms of scalability, availability, and trustworthiness, underscoring its potential in advancing smart city development and governance.

Enhancing urban economic efficiency through smart city development: A focus on sustainable transportation

An urban energy execution for smart transportation, evaluation, and impacting element model has been additionally built-in smart cities by the improved stochastic sustainable investigation technique (ISSIT), and board information from commonplace capitals has been considered for instance to do an exact examination. The urban energy execution appraisal and impacting variable model could diminish the issues brought about by two-organized execution, evaluation, and factor examination, measure the impacts of appraisal pointers and affecting elements of urban energy execution, and mirror the real execution of various urban communities in smart city transportation. Exact results show that urban energy execution of common capital in China has been expanding. The potential for energy-saving in Chinese common capital is also very high. When evaluating urban energy execution, it was critical to include the energy contribution as an appraisal pointer. Although there was a negative relationship between population thickness and urban energy execution, the temperature record, urbanization rate, and family vehicle possession were all extremely associated with urban energy execution. Chinese common capitals gradually lost their ability to execute urban energy from east to west. As a result of these findings, a few approach recommendations for improving urban energy execution are proposed for smart transportation.

Research on challenges and solutions in 5G application

5G technology is a new type of wireless communication technology with the characteristics of high speed, low delay, large connection, etc. It brings new opportunities and challenges to economic, social and industrial development. This article focuses on the application and value of 5G technology in smart cities, as well as the opportunities and challenges faced by 5G technology in smart cities. This article uses the method of literature reading and analysis to explore the role and functions of 5G technology in smart cities from the fields of smart homes, smart transportation, smart grids, smart security, etc. and analyzes the application scenarios and cases of 5G technology in smart cities, demonstrating the practical effects and social benefits of 5G technology in smart cities. This article evaluates the opportunities and challenges faced by 5G technology in smart cities, such as policy support, network construction, security, user needs, etc., and provides strategic suggestions for the promotion and application of 5G technology in smart cities. This article aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of 5G technology and smart cities, promote the coordinated development of 5G technology and smart cities, and provide technical support and innovation power for building a new digital, networked, and intelligent city.

Exploring services in a smart city through socio-technical design principles: Revealing five tensions in a smart living context

Smart cities have been studied for many years, but smart homes and the citizens' actual living in these smart homes are less researched. We argue that for digital government research, and for governments to be successful in smart city development in practice, it is necessary not only to understand living on a societal level, but also living aspects in the narrow context of homes. Citizens populate the smart city and are the ones who are supposed to use the services provided by the government. In this article we explore and analyze digital and analogue services in smart homes developed in a new city district. We have conducted observational studies in 53 apartments during an urban living expo which we analyze by applying a set of socio-technical design principles. The research question that guides the analysis is: “What tensions between values in digital and analogue services for a smart living can be revealed by a socio-technical perspective?”. We identify five tensions between: 1) being in control and being controlled, 2) intended and undesirable use of personal data, 3) digital and analogue smartness, 4) smart home visions and practices, and 5) environmental and social sustainability. By revealing these tensions, we contribute to an understanding of the complexity of smart living. We also contribute by highlighting the importance of applying a perspective that captures both technology and citizen and user issues (i.e., social aspects) when developing services in the smart home context.

Exploring the Contribution of Advanced Systems in Smart City Development for the Regeneration of Urban Industrial Heritage

This article shows the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks. It highlights the challenges faced by these areas, such as aging infrastructure, pollution, and neglect. Smart city technologies are examined as effective solutions for addressing these challenges by promoting efficient resource utilization, improving mobility and connectivity, and enhancing the quality of the built environment. International examples of smart city initiatives implemented in industrial heritage sites and traditional industrial blocks are presented to demonstrate the potential benefits of these technologies. This article emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement in the revitalization process. It argues that smart city development should prioritize the needs and aspirations of local communities, leveraging their knowledge and expertise for long-term success and sustainability. This article underscores the significance of adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to urban revitalization that considers social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. It suggests that smart city development can act as a catalyst for transforming urban industrial areas into thriving and resilient landscapes capable of addressing the challenges of the 21st century. This article aims to explore the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks while advocating for equitable outcomes and sustainable urban environments.

Smart Healthcare Management Model for Proactive Patient Monitoring

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading urban centers to employ AI technologies to improve efficiency and solve urban problems. This research proposes a Centralized System Model for Smart Cities (CSMSC) that centralizes AI-oriented data acquisition, processing, and decision-making. CSMSC uses real-time sensor networks for data collection, sophisticated AI algorithms for nuanced data interpretation, and unified storage for streamlined information management. Additionally, CSMSC integrates AI-based analyzers to autonomously produce alerts, evaluate their urgency, and decide upon suitable responses, enabling quick and targeted city interventions. The paper combines field evidence with theoretical frameworks to highlight the transformative potential of cognitive sensing and machine learning in smart city development. Recent studies have shown that AI on edge is revolutionizing the infrastructure of smart cities by bringing advanced intelligence and real-time analytics closer to the data source. AI on edge enables real-time decision-making, reduces latency, optimizes bandwidth usage, and enhances privacy and security. The potential benefits of using data analytics in smart cities are significant, and future research should focus on developing new algorithms and tools to analyze data and explore new IoT and machine-learning applications.

Fostering Smart Citizens: The Role of Public Libraries in Smart City Development

With rapid urbanization, cities worldwide have sought innovative, sustainable solutions such as smart city initiatives to leverage technology and data to better manage this growth and the challenges it brings. Developing smart cities requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, including citizens who, as smart citizens, are aware and capable of using technologies to improve their quality of life and actively and equally contribute to making their cities smarter. This study examines how smart citizens are developed by focusing on the underexplored role of public libraries as community organizations in such efforts. To this end, we use comparative case studies of four U.S. public libraries informed by thirty-seven in-depth interviews with representatives from these libraries, local governments, and external partners. Our findings indicate that by providing inclusive access to advanced technology and training, facilitating civic engagement, and promoting innovation, public libraries can develop citizens who, as smart citizens, have the digital skills, agency, and creativity to actively contribute to smart city development. In doing so, public libraries can bridge digital and social divides and thereby develop smart citizens in a way that furthers inclusive and representative participation of their communities in smart city initiatives.

Account based ticketing (ABT) integration for seamless multi-modal transport systems in smart cities

The digital transformation of urban transportation systems remains a critical challenge in Smart Cities' development. This paper addresses the pervasive issue of inadequate digitalization within public transportation systems. The paper highlights the promise of Account Based Ticketing (ABT) as a pivotal solution for integrating diverse public and private transportation modes allowing users to access different transportation services with a single account, without the need for new physical tickets or cards. ABT approach represents a breakthrough in seamlessly amalgamating various transportation operators' systems, transcending city limits into broader metropolitan spheres, and fostering integration and interoperability across transportation modes operated by disparate entities. Emphasizing beyond-city-scale integration, it explores the potential value of ABT to connect transportation networks extending into metropolitan influences. The proposed approach involves analyzing the implementation and functionality of ABT systems, underlining their capacity to overcome existing barriers in multi-modal transportation. The results anticipate enhanced accessibility, increased ridership, and streamlined user experiences, contributing to the realization of efficient and interconnected urban transport networks. This study not only underscores the value of ABT in revolutionizing contemporary transportation systems but also examines its broader implications for future urban planning and smart city development, highlighting the transformative potential and essential role that ABT plays in shaping the future of integrated transportation and Mobility as a Service in Smart Cities.

The Microverse: A Task-Oriented Edge-Scale Metaverse

Over the past decade, there has been a remarkable acceleration in the evolution of smart cities and intelligent spaces, driven by breakthroughs in technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), edge–fog–cloud computing, and machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI). As society begins to harness the full potential of these smart environments, the horizon brightens with the promise of an immersive, interconnected 3D world. The forthcoming paradigm shift in how we live, work, and interact owes much to groundbreaking innovations in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), blockchain, and digital twins (DTs). However, realizing the expansive digital vista in our daily lives is challenging. Current limitations include an incomplete integration of pivotal techniques, daunting bandwidth requirements, and the critical need for near-instantaneous data transmission, all impeding the digital VR metaverse from fully manifesting as envisioned by its proponents. This paper seeks to delve deeply into the intricacies of the immersive, interconnected 3D realm, particularly in applications demanding high levels of intelligence. Specifically, this paper introduces the microverse, a task-oriented, edge-scale, pragmatic solution for smart cities. Unlike all-encompassing metaverses, each microverse instance serves a specific task as a manageable digital twin of an individual network slice. Each microverse enables on-site/near-site data processing, information fusion, and real-time decision-making within the edge–fog–cloud computing framework. The microverse concept is verified using smart public safety surveillance (SPSS) for smart communities as a case study, demonstrating its feasibility in practical smart city applications. The aim is to stimulate discussions and inspire fresh ideas in our community, guiding us as we navigate the evolving digital landscape of smart cities to embrace the potential of the metaverse.

A new framework for assessment of park management in smart cities: a study based on social media data and deep learning

Urban park management assessment is critical to park operation and service quality. Traditional assessment methods cannot comprehensively assess park use and environmental conditions. Besides, although social media and big data have shown significant advantages in understanding public behavior or preference and park features or values, there has been little relevant research on park management assessment. This study proposes a deep learning-based framework for assessing urban park intelligent management from macro to micro levels with comment data from social media. By taking seven parks in Wuhan City as the objects, this study quantitatively assesses their overall state and performance in facilities, safety, environment, activities, and services, and reveals their main problems in management. The results demonstrate the impacts of various factors, including park type, season, and specific events such as remodeling and refurbishment, on visitor satisfaction and the characteristics of individual parks and their management. Compared with traditional methods, this framework enables real-time intelligent assessment of park management, which can accurately reflect park use and visitor feedback, and improve park service quality and management efficiency. Overall, this study provides important reference for intelligent park management assessment based on big data and artificial intelligence, which can facilitate the future development of smart cities.

A Survey on-Advancing Urban Sustainability through Smart City Integration

The three essential elements of smart city development that are highlighted in this project are air pollution monitoring, video surveillance, and optimised street lighting. Energy economy and safety are improved when intelligent sensors and controls are integrated into street lights. Proactive security measures are guaranteed by advanced video surveillance combined with AI analytics. IoT-enabled air pollution monitoring allows for the real-time collection of data for focused interventions. Savvy streetlamps outfitted with sensors and versatile controls offer energy investment funds and upgraded wellbeing by changing lighting levels in view of constant circumstances. Video reconnaissance frameworks, enabled by man-made intelligence calculations, give proactive observing and reaction abilities, guaranteeing public wellbeing and security. Moreover, air contamination observing utilizes IoT sensors to gather constant information on air quality boundaries, empowering designated intercessions to alleviate contamination levels. When these systems are integrated, sustainable urban growth is promoted, resource utilisation is optimised, and quality of life is enhanced.

Applications, challenges, and solutions of unmanned aerial vehicles in smart city using blockchain.

Real-time data gathering, analysis, and reaction are made possible by this information and communication technology system. Data storage is also made possible by it. This is a good move since it enhances the administration and operation services essential to any city's efficient operation. The idea behind "smart cities" is that information and communication technology (ICTs) need to be included in a city's routine activities in order to gather, analyze, and store enormous amounts of data in real-time. This is helpful since it makes managing and governing urban areas easier. The "drone" or "uncrewed aerial vehicle" (UAV), which can carry out activities that ordinarily call for a human driver, serves as an example of this. UAVs could be used to integrate geospatial data, manage traffic, keep an eye on objects, and help in an emergency as part of a smart urban fabric. This study looks at the benefits and drawbacks of deploying UAVs in the conception, development, and management of smart cities. This article describes the importance and advantages of deploying UAVs in designing, developing, and maintaining in smart cities. This article overviews UAV uses types, applications, and challenges. Furthermore, we presented blockchain approaches for addressing the given problems for UAVs in smart research topics and recommendations for improving the security and privacy of UAVs in smart cities. Furthermore, we presented Blockchain approaches for addressing the given problems for UAVs in smart cities. Researcher and graduate students are audience of our article.

The Internet of Things Drives Smart City Management

In the context of current smart city development, the efficiency of urban management has become crucial. Target detection technology plays a vital role in addressing the complexity of urban environments. The authors propose a new method called YOLOv8_k, employing transfer learning as its foundation. This method leverages pre-trained model parameters from related tasks to incorporate prior knowledge into the target detection model, adapting better to the complexity of smart city management scenarios. Experimental results demonstrate the outstanding performance of YOLOv8_k. In specific experimental results, YOLOv8_k shows significant improvements across multiple evaluation metrics. The average precision in target detection tasks experiences a notable increase. Furthermore, in large-scale urban datasets, compared to traditional methods, YOLOv8_k exhibits higher responsiveness in handling large volumes of real-time data, further demonstrating its superiority in practical applications.

Who built Songdo, the “world’s first smart city?” questioning technology firms’ ability to lead smart city development

ABSTRACT The media often depicts major information and technology (ICT) firms, such as IBM, Google, and Cisco, as the principal driving forces of smart city development. However, we argue that traditional urban development actors, such as real estate developers and national and local governments, play larger roles. ICT firms have limitations as leaders of major smart city development because of two important factors: 1) financially, the ICT budget is merely a small portion of the total greenfield smart city development budget, and 2) the ICT product lifespans are much shorter than that of the built environment. We explain how these two issues cause several practical problems that are obstacles to ICT firms taking charge of major smart city development. To this end, we refer to findings from an in-depth case study of the Songdo International Business District, which some have dubbed “the world’s first smart city,” allegedly built by Cisco.

Exploring the Potential of Architectural Semiotic in Realizing the Smart City Concept

Smart City is an urban development paradigm that integrates information and communication technology to improve the quality of life of residents, efficient resource management and environmental sustainability. Architectural semiotic, as the embodiment of visual language in architecture, has an important role in creating a smart and sustainable environment. This research aims to explore the potential of architectural semiotic in realizing the Smart City concept. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The results of this research reveal that the potential of architectural semiotic in the Smart City concept can be optimized through steps such as literature study and concept analysis, use of modern technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, community participation, and development of design guidelines. By engaging architects, data scientists, engineers, and the public, and creating practical guidance, this research details how architectural semiotic can be effectively integrated in smart city development. It is hoped that these results will make a significant contribution in creating a smart, efficient, aesthetic and sustainable urban environment in accordance with Smart City principles.

Effect of Feature Scaling Pre-processing Techniques on Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Particulate Matter Concentration for Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Particulate matter (PM) has widely been recognized as the primary factor responsible for air pollution, posing significant health hazards, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Major sources of particulate matter include construction sites, power plants, industries and automobiles, landfills and agriculture, wildfires and brush/waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen, and fragments of bacteria. Even though various studies have been carried out to predict particulate matter concentration, there are only a handful of papers that focus on the data scaling pre-processing aspect and how it affects the prediction. For the study, Gandhinagar Smart City Development Limited, Gandhinagar, Gujarat has provided Air Quality data from 26-1-2022 to 16-01-2023. The provided data has several challenges such as missing data, inconsistent data, and mixed data (numerical and categorical). Data pre-processing is an essential step in machine learning regression problems. Data pre-processing techniques include missing value handling, data scaling, outlier detection, feature selection/engineering, and imputation. So, this paper aims to identify the effect of the data scaling pre-processing technique to predict the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM10) for Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Data scaling will be performed based on whether data are normally distributed or not. Four data scaling techniques such as Normalizer, Robust Scaler, Min-Max Scaler, and Standard Scaler in combination with six machine learning algorithms such as Multiple Linear Regressor, Support Vector Regressor, K-Nearest Neighbour regressor, Decision Tree Regressor, Random Forest Regressor, and XGBoost Regressor were compared to identify best prediction model for Particulate Matter (PM10) concentration.

Analysis of the Barriers to Smart City Development Using DEMATEL

This study analyzes the barriers to developing smart cities (SCs) using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. The primary objective is to identify, classify, and assess the main barriers hindering the progress of SCs. Through an extensive literature review, twelve main barriers were identified. The DEMATEL approach models and analyzes the relationships among these barriers based on expert input. The results reveal that technical problems, a lack of infrastructure, and high costs are classified as cause barriers. Security and privacy concerns and the absence of coordinated planning are classified as effect barriers. This study emphasizes the need for established criteria and iterative development requirements. Although the influence of knowledge and skills gaps and a lack of awareness is less significant, these aspects still require attention. The findings suggest that a comprehensive approach focusing on technical solutions, infrastructure development, strategic planning, and cybersecurity measures can effectively overcome barriers. Regular evaluation of barrier dynamics is crucial for implementing adaptive measures. The results provide decision-makers with a valuable model to address the challenges and foster the efforts of SC stakeholders.

Pametni gradovi usmjereni na građane

This paper examines the role of social media and citizen engagement in empowering public administration for citizen-centric smart city development. It focuses on the Smart Cities Marketplace, an EU initiative providing a collaborative platform. The study evaluates citizen engagement on Twitter, analysing posts from the Smart Cities Marketplace page. Objectives include assessing the representation of smart city dimensions: Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Living, and Smart Governance, and comparing engagement levels between posts with and without related keywords. Through quantitative and qualitative analyses, the study addresses citizen engagement and representation of smart city dimensions. The findings highlight the importance of innovative and tailored approaches to leverage social media as a catalyst for smart city development. Social media is pivotal in promoting collective accountability and shaping sustainable urban development, leading to adaptable, resilient environments that improve urban liveability and life quality.

Study on Distance Learning: A Developmental Leap towards Smart Education in Smart Cities

The research investigates the transformative implications of integrating distance learning within the framework of smart cities, unraveling its role in reshaping educational paradigms. Within the dynamic context of urban development, the study explores the symbiotic relationship between distance learning and smart cities, aiming to elucidate how this fusion contributes to inclusive, adaptable, and future-oriented educational ecosystems. Emphasizing the significance of distance learning in democratizing education, the study delves into its ability to transcend geographical barriers, offering flexible and personalized learning experiences. Through an extensive literature review and a comprehensive methodology involving surveys and diverse stakeholder perspectives, the study examines smart education's multifaceted role in smart city development, emphasizing technological integration, innovation, and socioeconomic empowerment. Furthermore, the research delineates the developmental leap facilitated by distance learning within smart cities, highlighting its role in advancing inclusivity, lifelong learning, and sustainability goals. The intricate relationship between distance learning, smart learning, and smart cities is analyzed, showcasing their interconnectedness in fostering educational evolution within technologically advanced urban landscapes. Additionally, the study underscores the comprehensive advancements in smart education by amalgamating innovative technological integration, refined pedagogical practices, and robust infrastructural frameworks. The research concludes by identifying key findings, highlighting advancements, and addressing persisting challenges in infrastructure, connectivity, and data privacy, signaling areas necessitating improvement. Ultimately, the study underscores the pivotal role of distance learning in propelling smart education within smart cities, culminating in the creation of inclusive, accessible, and technologically enriched educational landscapes.